MartinAZ

One of the best games I've ever played! Neil Druckmann makes one hell of a master piece! I've beaten this game well over 20 times and still managed to pick up or notice how things unfolded by simply looking at how the scene is constructed for the player. The amazing detail in every step is simply breath taking! If you're interested. pick this game up and get tied into the ride of your life! Go into this game knowing a little as possible and come out a survivor. The last of us gets my 1st ever 10 out of 10. Joel and Ellie steal the show!

Martin A. - I love it! Ape Escape 3 it is not only worth your time, it's worth every penny. There is a new mini game and what an unexpecting mini game it is. Snake from the Metal Gear Solid series makes an appearance and it's not just a cameo either, it's a full level with codec calls! Soichi Terada returns for the soundtrack! Introducing new gadgets that feel necessary, all while changing your attire to boot that is based on the gender that the player chooses in the beginning of the game. The levels are polished and hold up today! This is the only series that I can say that every entry has been better than its predecessor and Ape Escape 3 is no different. I may be giving the series a 9 across the board but as a whole, if I could rate the trilogy. It would be a perfect 10. I give Ape Escape 3 a 9.5 out of 10.

Martin A. - They're on the loose again. Ape Escape 2 is the successor to Ape Escape 1 in every way. The music is somehow better, the graphics are polished and still hold up today. I slept on this title for years, and regretted it. What I hated. Jimmy replaces Spike from the 1st game and maybe that's because it's a different team but he would have made a good skin or would have been involved in the story somehow. Close to none of the original makers return for this sequel but I didn't notice at all. What I loved. The Ape Escape 2 team makes one heck **** and you don't need to play the 1st to understand. The levels are bigger and styled after tourist attractions around the globe. The monkeys are more creative and this time there is a team of colors. The music is done by the Koji Hayama, which seamlessly sounds like the 1st game to my amazement. What a duel of voice actors, Ash and Misty from Pokemon are Jimmy and Natalie respectfully. This game also added one of my favorite mini games called "Monkey Soccer" which is impressively fun and addicting. The magic of the 1st game is alive and even more magical here. It's a perfect sequel, and if not, it's at least a good example of how to approach making a sequel. Thank you Ape Escape 2 team for everything. 9.5 out of 10.

Martin A. - I want to move to Columbia! A city in the sky doesn't sound appealing until it's actually seen in person. Putting the racism aside, the city of Columbia is beautiful! The sky train trollies and the children playing out in the open with barbershop quartet around the corner. It's something you have to see for yourself. What I hated. The story is linear and choices don't make a difference but I believe that's the point the story is making. Everything comes full circle but what a horrible beautiful circle it is. What I loved. The music is almost tailor made for Columbia. Elizabeth is a wonderful companion on your adventure through sheer wonder! I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that this game has culture and it all seems so believable that I wonder if maybe this is really a city in the sky. This is a must own. If not, just visit once and fall in love with the city of Columbia! If you aren't afraid of heights that is. 9 out of 10

Martin A. - Gatta catch them all! Ape Escape ,at the time, was revolutionary for showing me at a young age that the duel shock analog controller was not only the future of gaming, it will soon be "a must have" for years to come. One of the 1st games to ever require a $70 controller. I remember my father saying "This is your birthday present." around July, I was born in December and it was worth every penny and then some. What I hated. The graphics don't hold up but there is an HD version on the PSP called Ape Escape: On the Loose, which has cut content because of the lack of a 2nd analog stick. Most notably, a cut mini game called "Galaxy Monkey" which was my favorite of the three mini games. The voice actors aren't the same which is understandable. The game has an infinite jump glitch involving the sling shot, which I must point out as a negative even though in my opinion, improves the gameplay. Also, the game is too short, I wanted more than just a graphics update. What I loved. Everything. The location of the levels are imprinted in my mind. The music is on my phone today and one of them is my ringtone (Crabby Beach). Soichi Terada is the man responsible for the sound track and I'm eternally thankful. There are monkeys riding dinosaurs and doing all sorts of horsing around, almost making them come to life, as if they really do live in the game's environment. The monkey radar reveals not only where the monkeys are but their names and contains a reference to South Park. There's nothing more to say other than play it. I have to thank Susumu Takatsuka and the entire staff of the Ape Escape team for shaping my childhood and adding magic to my life. Thank you all so much! 9 out of 10.

Martin A. - You had me at "Robot dinosaurs." Horizon Zero dawn is an open world sand box filled with robotic dinosaurs to hunt, mount and hack. Do I need to say more? What I hated, I fail to see why someone hasn't figured the mechanics out. Why is it that the main character is always the only one with access or just so happens to be of blood. I would rather bump into someone like Aloy and try to figure it out why she is special. I also find it hard to believe that robotic dinosaurs do not just instantly kill or why the game doesn't bother to explain regeneration which is a pet peeve of mine with any game that doesn't bother to explain it. Why are there levels in this game? Aloy seems to be wearing the same leather clothes and she faces creatures that can shoot missiles. Is it because she's level 80? It also would have helped to have more merchants selling ammo that didn't run out (they could have balanced this out by limiting the amount of money a player can carry) or at least had the material to make the ammo and how about a place to live because this game has saved points modeled after camp fires, why not a home? Also, don't expect to climb or parkour because you have to look out for climbing rope or bright yellow hand holds because reasons. All death animations are the exactly the same. Also, It would have been interesting to find people who ride normal horses and listen to their reasons why horses are better, such as being able to cross a river or encounter tribes that prefer robot horses because they can stand the cold, where horses can't. What I loved. All the details aside, the world of Horizon Zero Dawn is beautiful and the robot dinosaurs are well designed. I just can't help thinking this would have been better as a horror game. I mean dinosaurs are already deadly, put missiles and guns on them, would only make them horrifyingly deadlier. This is still a game worth experiencing but at a rental price or discounted price. The game is not hard by any sense. With all that said, 7 out of 10.

Martin A. - Mario does it again and brings the whole world this time. Super Mario Odyssey is beautiful, wonderful, masterpiece. The music, the view, the sheer nostalgia of pervious titles makes this not only a swan song but also a trip back to memory lane all while being it's own game to boot. I have nothing bad to say other than play it, please. This is a must own for Mario fans and a must own for everyone else as well. So, here wo go, jump up with me, grab coins with me, oh yeah! 10 out of 10.

Martin A. - The closest game to real life. Anything anyone can think of, one can do in GTA. The amount of detail and funding for this game is just insane. $6 Billion in profits, this is what a triple A title is. $265 million in development with a team of 1,000 people. It's on a different league. What I hated. Just like real life, it can get boring but GTA Online takes this away if you have friends to play with. The story takes about 8 hours to complete which is short for it's considered budget. What I loved. Just letting lose and exploring this game makes me want to live in it. The cars, the road, the skies and the view are all just jaw dropping beautiful! I can't imagine just one section of this game because it clocks in at 75.84 square kilometers. That's roughly the size of San Francisco. This falls under must own. 9 out of 10.

Martin A. - A once in a life time collaboration of gaming. Who would have thought that putting 43 games into 1 would make one hell of a fighting game. With over 89 characters, including brand names, such as Mario, Sonic, Pikachu and Sora; an additional 103 unique stages in 3 different forms (over 309), Masahiro Sakurai has made sure that not 1 match will ever play the same. Did I mention that 8 players can join in this chaos? What I hated. Where's my Crash Bandicoot? Not everyone made it but that doesn't discredit the sheer amount of hard work that it took for such a game to exist. There are many things to do but they all devolve to the basics and at it's heart, this is still a fighting game. Every mini game is defeat 20 Yoshi's or whack a giant Pikachu. There's a story here but it falls back to its base, meaning, it's just a 100 match campaign with a boss or two at the end. What I loved. Playing with friends, like all it's previous titles. There's just nothing else similar to this scale. This falls under must own. Super Smash Ultimate is truly a gaming world wonder. 9 out of 10.

Martin A. - All hero's are ready to play right out of the box. This game is a MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) with over 123 characters, there's bond to be at least a handful that are right for you! Each hero also has alternate designs that can mix and match. It's amazing that not 1 game is ever the same. What I hated, the players expect you to know all the buzz words and gameplay. This can't be avoided because not knowing can be game ending. I highly recommend looking up videos about how to play your hero because if you miss click or don't get to fire off, there is no redo or pause button because the entire game is live with ten people. Meaning that if the restroom is needed, 9 people will be waiting for a return and they aren't patient because anyone can resume the game after 30 seconds. There is no campaign here, so, all that is needed to know is how to play. Once you know your hero, the next step is to learn all the items that can extend your abilities. With over 208 items. It will never get boring. What I love. The cosmetics have a market and the prices can go to the moon and back. A player can spend on cosmetics, return in 3 years and get their return and then some. Do you want invisibility? Well there's an item for that. Do you want regeneration? There a item for that. Do you want to shock your enemy with a dragon stick? Well it's on sale! No friends? No problem. There is a match finder and it takes about 3 minutes on average to find a game. Gamer be ware because each game is on minimum 35 minutes and I'm not joking. The glory of winning in team is nothing short of incredible. Tournaments for this game are in the millions every year. It's amazing that they are able to book arenas for just one game. 9/10

Martin A.- Arknights is something special. The amount of detail and gorgeous backgrounds are jaw dropping. This app is a Real Time Strategy, Tower Defense styled game. Arknights isn't afraid to let go of your hand unlike other games that lead the way with constant pop up instruction screens. Every character has a purpose as well as a specific skillset and design for every scenario. I thought, I could go in guns blazing but Arknights demands your attention and wit. There were many times where I thought I just put my PSP (Playstation Portable) down and thought I lost my phone. Have I mentioned that this game also has fantastic music? As I write this review, I have spent nothing. It makes me look back at other games I've paid in the past and nothing comes close to this kind of quality. I'm honestly embarrassed that I did not find this game sooner. Arknights is not only worth a try, it's worth your time. 9 out of 10.

Martin A. - A masterpiece! A work of Art in the form ****! This game had the whole weight of the world on it's shoulders and still proceeded to make Metal Gear Solid Online as a free game mode (at the time). There is nothing to say about 10/10 games. Go in knowing as little as possible about this game and have the time of your life! 10 out 10.

Martin A.- What can't be said about Hideo Kojima's Phantom Pain? As I've had time to sit and let the game age like wine, it still holds up strong today and puts realistic black ops into gameplay. The story, doesn't matter and I believe that it is intended this way to ask the player, what are you willing to do to be the grate legendary mercenary commander: Big Boss? What I hated, It's fun. Why is that bad? Because I killed allot of people and not only did I have fun, I kidnaped some of them and then realized the war economy works the same way in real life. What I loved, everything from the scenery to the mission is taken into gameplay. The characters are well designed and every gun has it's unique feel and the story is all kinds of bonkers. Best part of this game is that you don't need to play the previous games at all to understand anything being said. I just didn't think the grate Hideo Kojima had it in him to create another golden egg. Go in knowing as little as possible and get **** in the the wonderful world of Metal Gear Solid! - 9 out of 10

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]